Where do SP101s stand in the Ruger line-up?
- Thread starter Pond James Pond
- Start date
I have owned 4, still have 3. The SP101 is a beautiful revolver. My 2" DAO 357 is a favorite. Its accurate, and soaks up 357 recoil perfectly. There are lighter snubs available, but Im sure the SP101 will outlast anything else. I dont have a steel J frame to compare the SP101 to, but do have several Airweight/Airlites, and I like the SP101 better. I find it too heavy for pocket carry, but in a shoulder rig, it disappears.
I also have a pair of 4" SP101s, the 22LR and the 357. I really like the 22. I have not shot the 357 yet. The 22 IMHO is the best DA 22 revolver being made today. I have a S&W 4" 617 to compare it to, and greatly prefer the SP. My wife has shot the trigger smooth, and I replaced the springs with Wolff springs, and the trigger is excellent. The trigger is the biggest complaint from SP101-22 owners.
The OP asked if it is as "Ruger as other Rugers?" Yes...it most definitely is.
I also have a pair of 4" SP101s, the 22LR and the 357. I really like the 22. I have not shot the 357 yet. The 22 IMHO is the best DA 22 revolver being made today. I have a S&W 4" 617 to compare it to, and greatly prefer the SP. My wife has shot the trigger smooth, and I replaced the springs with Wolff springs, and the trigger is excellent. The trigger is the biggest complaint from SP101-22 owners.
The OP asked if it is as "Ruger as other Rugers?" Yes...it most definitely is.
I have both .38 and .357 three and 2.25 barrels. I carry the 3 inch .38 almost everyday in either a Don Hume IWB or a Silverdollar pancake OWB. No problems and spoke with a man that carries 2 short ones all the time. I have shot the .357s and no problems with recoil. I'm 64 y/o and love these guns.
Phil
Phil
Lost Sheep
New member
My 2.75" Security Six is a LOT easier to shoot than my SP101s and not a whole lot bigger or heavier.
My GP100 3" and 4" are both a lot bigger than my SP101 but are more accurate and enjoyable to shoot.
I opine that my SP101s will outlast any other similarly sized .357 magnums fed a similar diet of ammunition.
Talking only about double action: I will admit that my .22RF SPs and .357 Magnum SPs have stock springs and would benefit from some trigger work and aftermarket springs. But my Sec Sixes and GPs (and Redhawks and Super Redhawks) all have stock springs and never had any action smoothing, either.
In single action, all are about equal, so gun mass and sight picture rule. SP101 and LCR tied for worst and all the rest equal but for sight radius.
Where do they fall in the spectrum of Rugers in general?
I would say they are as strong as the Sixes, almost as strong as the GPs and a lot stronger than the LCRs. Rating the ease of shootings, though, I would put the LCR at the top, security six and then the GPs and both Redhawsk all very close together and the SPs 'way far behind. Sights, though really hurt the LCRs. The sights hurt the SPs, too, but with the handicap of the lousy trigger on the SP, the sights handicap is not significant.
On a scale of 100,
SP101 30
LCR 30
GP100 65
Sixes 75
Redhawk 95
Super Redhawk 100
But if you rate weight, strength, accuracy in single action, accuracy in double action, concealability, comfort of shooting differently than I, you will come up with different figures and likely, different ranking order.
Heck, I might come up with a different ranking order tomorrow myself. This is so subjective.
Lost Sheep
My GP100 3" and 4" are both a lot bigger than my SP101 but are more accurate and enjoyable to shoot.
I opine that my SP101s will outlast any other similarly sized .357 magnums fed a similar diet of ammunition.
Talking only about double action: I will admit that my .22RF SPs and .357 Magnum SPs have stock springs and would benefit from some trigger work and aftermarket springs. But my Sec Sixes and GPs (and Redhawks and Super Redhawks) all have stock springs and never had any action smoothing, either.
In single action, all are about equal, so gun mass and sight picture rule. SP101 and LCR tied for worst and all the rest equal but for sight radius.
Where do they fall in the spectrum of Rugers in general?
I would say they are as strong as the Sixes, almost as strong as the GPs and a lot stronger than the LCRs. Rating the ease of shootings, though, I would put the LCR at the top, security six and then the GPs and both Redhawsk all very close together and the SPs 'way far behind. Sights, though really hurt the LCRs. The sights hurt the SPs, too, but with the handicap of the lousy trigger on the SP, the sights handicap is not significant.
On a scale of 100,
SP101 30
LCR 30
GP100 65
Sixes 75
Redhawk 95
Super Redhawk 100
But if you rate weight, strength, accuracy in single action, accuracy in double action, concealability, comfort of shooting differently than I, you will come up with different figures and likely, different ranking order.
Heck, I might come up with a different ranking order tomorrow myself. This is so subjective.
Lost Sheep
Super Sneaky Steve
New member
I have a 3" SP101. It's the perfect woods gun. It's like a beefed up M60.
Houge rubber grips feel the best to me. It will handle the hottest loads even if you can't.
Houge rubber grips feel the best to me. It will handle the hottest loads even if you can't.
I have a 3" .327 and it's taken the top spot for my needs. I have smaller hands and the grips work out fine, although I changed out the grip panels to improve cosmetics.
I had the Wolff spring kit in mine, but after I tore into it and smoothed things out with a stone or a polishing wheel or two, the trigger is good to go.
For me, at least, the .327 SP101 is a grail gun.
I had the Wolff spring kit in mine, but after I tore into it and smoothed things out with a stone or a polishing wheel or two, the trigger is good to go.
For me, at least, the .327 SP101 is a grail gun.
I like mine quite a lot. I'd agree that it's about the perfect camping/hiking gun.
When I open carry in my own woods I use a gp100, but fit public land the sp101 slips into my satchel much easier.
However if I was going to buy one today is rather have the 3" instead of the 2.25".
Almost as easy to carry, and you get as little more zip out of the magnums.
When I open carry in my own woods I use a gp100, but fit public land the sp101 slips into my satchel much easier.
However if I was going to buy one today is rather have the 3" instead of the 2.25".
Almost as easy to carry, and you get as little more zip out of the magnums.
Well, I ordered a Hogue grip for mine last night off of fleabay. I'll probably order the spring kit today. While shopping around on fleabay, I found that there is a vendor selling blemished Triple K holsters for the 4.2" SP101. That is the same holster that Ruger sells on its website for them (minus the blemish). Price is less than half of the non-blemished version. Think I might pick up one of those too.
precision_shooter
New member
Accuracy
Not sure why so many claim these pistols are not accurate. I changed the grips to Hogues prior to shooting this pistol. Below are a couple of vidoes of me with my SP101 4.2" and some long distance targets...
Click Pictures for video
SP101 4.2" - 6"x8" steel plate at about 75 yards offhand.
SP101 4.2" - 10" balloon at 100 yards, Seated with elbows resting on bench.
Not sure why so many claim these pistols are not accurate. I changed the grips to Hogues prior to shooting this pistol. Below are a couple of vidoes of me with my SP101 4.2" and some long distance targets...
Click Pictures for video
SP101 4.2" - 6"x8" steel plate at about 75 yards offhand.
SP101 4.2" - 10" balloon at 100 yards, Seated with elbows resting on bench.
I don't know where they stand in the mix, but I do know that I like them. I have both the 3 1/8in & 2 1/4in barrel versions. I bought them because they are reputed to be well made, and rugged. I've kept them both stock, and I've found nothing wrong with them, and I'd recommend them to others looking for a nice concealed carry revolver. My brother in law, who I shoot with has since purchased one, and he is considering another for his wife.
Jayhawkhuntclub
New member
I always thought the ejector rod was pretty flimsy on the sp101. Otherwise it is a tank. The trigger is poor. But with a good trigger job it can be made mediocre. They do handle magnum loads with surprising comfort though. If it had adjustable sights (the 3") and gave it a trigger like the LCR...well I'd still have mine. It's a fine woods gun and you get a fair amount for what you pay. But it does have it's limitations.
A pause for the COZ
New member
Doyle: Thanks for the heads up on the triple K holster.
Got mine, if you did not order. You better. only two left.
Got mine, if you did not order. You better. only two left.
A pause for the COZ
New member
I dont know about every one else. In my case I did not say inaccurate. It certainly is more than accurate enough.
It is true my Single 7 is more accurate. But in fairness, I have much more trigger time with the 7 and the loads I have loaded are one it likes the best.
So might not be fair.And the difference is not all that much. If I did not have the 7 available I certainly would not feel like I missed any thing.
Hammerhead
New member
I like Blackhawks, Redhawks and especially the GP100, but I've never been impressed with the SP101. Had an older one in .22lr. Very rough chambers, big gap, mediocre accuracy, poor DA and SA pull. A friend has a .357 with pretty much the same issues. The new ones at the LGS in .22lr seem even worse. Sorry, not a fan.
The new sp101 .357 little stiff trigger, but it should smooth out. The new SP101 .22 has tight chambers and today would not eject the last bunch of cartridge casings. I fired some Remington Golden bullets no problem. Switched to CCI Green Tag ammo and had to wait until I got home to tap cases out. I did have the same problem with an .22 S&W and just keep shooting and cleaning. I think it must have been a burr in three of the Smith chambers. It works ok now. I have heard of rimming tool for chambers. Do they make one for a .22?
Phil
Phil
txray22 said:
I keep a nylon chamber brush, and a small plastic hammer in my range bag. I shoot 22 revolvers alot, have quite a few of them. They all do this. My wife loves to shoot my LCR-22. She gives the ejection rod a small tap with the plastic hammer every time she clears the cylinder. She probably wouldnt have to, but just got in the habit of doing that.
The 2" 357 was my constant sidearm companion while hunting until just a few years ago. Maybe against the norm, I always had mine loaded with 158 JSP Magnum's. If I had to rely on it against a hog I didn't want to take any chances with some kind of 38+P or reduced recoil Magnum load. I had Hogue Nylon grips on mine, very controllable!